The Bank Robber Who Got Away—Twice
A fugitive accused of targeting the First Bank of White Bluffs has slipped through the hands of the law yet again.
John Burke, one of the three men accused of attempting to rob the First Bank of White Bluffs about two years ago, escaped from jail while awaiting trial. He was recently taken into custody by officers in California, but they released him before they learned he was wanted by officers of this county and Federal officials. He is again at large, according to word received recently by Sheriff James Shepherd.
“He is again at large, according to word received recently by Sheriff James Shepherd.”
Bank robberies in small, isolated towns were high-stakes events in the 1920s, serving as a reminder of the fragility of local infrastructure. Today, the site of this bank would be long underwater, as the entire town of White Bluffs was cleared for the Hanford Nuclear Site during World War II.
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